Calls for Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council to buy the closed down Co-op and its car park have been backed by councillors.

At the recent scrutiny commission meeting members voted to recommend the authority explore all options for acquiring the site.

The Heart of England department store shut in January, among a raft of closures ordered by society chiefs amid financial losses across the home and living sector.

Businesses in Castle Street and Upper Castle Street say the loss of the retail draw and the accompanying car parking spaces has hit their trade hard with a huge 30% drop in footfall and subsequent plunge in profits.

A petition and campaign from the Hinckley and District Chamber of Trade has urged the borough council to take over the 1.7 acre site to prevent some of the town’s unique independent stores going under.

Now full council will be asked to agree to this plea after scrutiny members, from all parties, threw their weight behind the bid.

The recommendation from the committee was: “That the council seeks to gain ownership of the Co-op site at the earliest opportunity, on the best possible terms, in order to secure car parking capacity in the Upper Castle Street and surrounding area to support the traders and businesses located there.”

Councillor Stuart Bray, who was at the meeting, said: “A presentation by members of the chamber of trade was made expressing concerns about the impact the closure has had on trade and the lack of car parking generally.